Question

The first printing press in India was introduced at__
(A) Surat
(B) Bombay
(C) Calcutta
(D) Goa

Answer 1

Hint: India entered India in 1556 with the first printing press in India. Apparently from Portugal, a ship was carrying a printing press setting sail for Abyssinia in order to assist the missionary work in Abyssinia. Circumstances prevented this printing press from leaving India, and printing in the country was therefore started.

Complete step by step solution: The art of printing first reached India via Goa. There is proof that the use in India of the principle of mass replication dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization period. Originally, land grants were documented by engraving details on copper plates and etchings on various surfaces, such as wood, bone, ivory and shells. Printing arrived about a hundred years after the first printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
The need for the introduction of printing in the subcontinent was motivated by several factors, the main one being evangelization and the Jesuits were solely responsible for this. It is known that Francis Xavier taught the Bible in Tharangambadi, around 1542, in Tamil Nadu. Also when the Viceroy of Goa opened schools for Indians on behalf of King Joao III of Portugal, Francis Xavier forced Portugal to make printing presses accessible to India, Ethiopia and Japan.
Ships were then expected to round the Cape of Good Hope, touch Goa, and meet Abyssinia on the prevalent route from Portugal to Abyssinia. Thus the press reached Goa, but soon after, news reached Goa that the Emperor of the Abyssinians was not interested in receiving the missionaries. The clergy in Goa felt the need for a printing press at the same time, and the press was made available to them at the behest of the then Governor-General. The press, therefore, remained in Goa.

Option D is the correct answer

Note: It came to India after Mexico had its first printing press. There were four to six printers from 1940 to 1960 in Goa, of which JD Fernandes, Gomantak Printers and Borkar Printers were the most prominent.